(SportsNetwork.com) - The Tampa Bay Lightning will try to match their longest
winning streak of the season when they host the Carolina Hurricanes in
Saturday's battle in Central Florida.

With recent wins over Detroit, the New York Islanders and Nashville, the
Lightning have notched their fourth three-game winning streak of the season
and the first since Tampa rattled off a season-best four consecutive victories
from Nov. 1-9. It also marks the longest winning streak for the Bolts since
star centerman Steven Stamkos went down to a broken leg on Nov. 11.

After beating the Red Wings and Islanders on the road, the Lightning returned
home to defeat the Predators by a 4-2 score in Thursday's matchup at Tampa Bay
Times Forum. Alex Killorn had one goal and an assist to lead the Bolts
Lightning to a 4-2 win over the Nashville Predators on Thursday.

Martin St. Louis, Teddy Purcell and Richard Panik also tallied for the
Lightning. Anders Lindback made 28 saves in the win and improved to 3-6-1 this
season.

"Lindback deserves better from us. He and (Ben) Bishop have been A and A-
plus," said Lightning coach Jon Cooper. "Hopefully we can continue to give him
goal support because he's played better than his record."

Bishop expects to get the call in net tonight. He is 2-0 with two shutouts in
his career against the Hurricanes and stopped all 31 shots sent his way when
Tampa downed Carolina by a 3-0 score on Nov. 1 in Raleigh.

The Lightning, who are 13-3-1 as the host this season, have won five of their
last six encounters against Carolina, but the clubs have split the last eight
tilts in Tampa.

Carolina, meanwhile, has lost four of its last five games and was handed a 4-2
setback by the visiting Washington Capitals on Friday. Alex Ovechkin scored
his 400th career goal late in the third period, and the Caps went 3-for-4 on
the power play en route to the victory at PNC Arena.

Cam Ward stopped 25 shots for Carolina, which failed to produce an equalizer
despite a pair of third-period power plays. The Hurricanes went 1-for-5 with
the man advantage on the night.

"They got a potent power play and obviously it was the big difference
tonight," said Hurricanes head coach Kirk Muller.

Carolina, which is 7-7-3 on the road this season, will follow this game in
Tampa by playing three of its next four on home ice.